Method for Transmitting Service Stream in Flexible Ethernet and Apparatus

ABSTRACT

Embodiments provide a method for transmitting a service stream in a flexible Ethernet and an apparatus. The method includes: obtaining a to-be-transmitted service stream, where the service stream is to be transmitted by using a target virtual connection supported by a physical connection group between a transmit end and a receive end, the physical connection group includes multiple physical connections and supports at least one virtual connection, and the target virtual connection is any one of the at least one virtual connection; determining, from total bandwidth resources of the multiple physical connections and according to timeslot configuration tables used by the multiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection; and transmitting the service stream to the receive end by using the timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/873,397, filed on Jan. 17, 2018, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2016/090161, filed on Jul. 15, 2016.The International Application claims priority to Chinese PatentApplication No. 201510423022.3, filed on Jul. 17, 2015. All of theafore-mentioned patent applications are hereby incorporated by referencein their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the Ethernet field, andmore specifically, to a method for transmitting a service stream in aflexible Ethernet and an apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Introduction of a concept of a flexible Ethernet (FlexEth) provides afeasible evolution direction for virtualization of an Ethernet physicalconnection. In the FlexEth, one or more physical connections are boundby using cascading to constitute a physical connection group, to obtaina bandwidth resource pool. Total bandwidth resources of the bandwidthresource pool are a sum of bandwidth resources of all physicalconnections in the physical connection group. From another perspective,the physical connection group may be considered as a high speed logicalconnection that is implemented between a transmit end and a receive end.The logical connection has a total bandwidth of the bandwidths of thephysical interface connections that are bound using cascading. In theFlexEth, the bandwidth resources of the physical connection group arefurther divided into several timeslots using time division. Severalvirtual connections are supported by binding the timeslots usingcascading, thereby providing a powerful flexibility characteristic fordata transmission in the Ethernet.

Data is transmitted over each physical connection in the physicalconnection group using a data frame as a period. One subframe is used asan example. The subframe includes an overhead code block at thebeginning part, and then 1024 groups of information code blocks closelyfollow. Each group of information code blocks usually includes 20 codeblocks that respectively correspond to bandwidth resources of 20timeslots obtained using time division. When transmitting a servicestream using a virtual connection supported by the physical connectiongroup, the transmit end and the receive end need to determine, based ona timeslot configuration table used by each physical connection in thephysical connection group, a timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs tothe virtual connection, and then use the timeslot bandwidth resource totransmit the service stream to a receive end. In one system, a 16-bitClient field is defined in an overhead area of a physical connection,and is specially used to transmit content of the timeslot configurationtable, so that the receive end can correctly restore the service stream.

However, the timeslot configuration table used by the physicalconnection does not always change, and information transmitted in afield specially defined for the timeslot configuration table in theoverhead area may be repeated or unwanted information. In addition, thetimeslot configuration table of the physical connection is excessivelylarge, and in a current system, 40 basic frame periods are needed totransmit content of a complete timeslot configuration table to thereceive end. Therefore, transmission efficiency is low.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for transmitting aservice stream in a flexible Ethernet and an apparatus, to avoid a wasteof overhead resources.

According to a first aspect, a method for transmitting a service streamin a flexible Ethernet is provided. The method includes obtaining ato-be-transmitted service stream. The service stream is to betransmitted using a target virtual connection supported by a physicalconnection group between a transmit end and a receive end. The physicalconnection group includes multiple physical connections and supports atleast one virtual connection, and the target virtual connection is anyone of the at least one virtual connection. The method also includesdetermining, from total bandwidth resources of the multiple physicalconnections and according to timeslot configuration tables used by themultiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidth resource thatbelongs to the target virtual connection. A timeslot configuration tableused by each physical connection indicates a virtual connection to whicheach timeslot bandwidth resource obtained by dividing a bandwidthresource of each physical connection belongs. The method also includestransmitting the service stream to the receive end using the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection. Anoverhead code block transmitted over each physical connection includes afirst field. The first field indicates an identifier of the timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection. The overhead codeblock transmitted over each physical connection further includes fieldsused for a management channel. The management channel is used to, whenthe timeslot configuration table used by each physical connectionchanges, transmit content of a changed timeslot configuration table.

With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation of the firstaspect, the management channel is further used to: when a configurationtable of the physical connection group changes, transmit content of achanged configuration table of the physical connection group, where theconfiguration table of the physical connection group is used to indicatean identifier of each physical connection in the physical connectiongroup and a sequence between the physical connections.

With reference to the first aspect or the foregoing implementation ofthe first aspect, in another implementation of the first aspect, themanagement channel is used to transmit, based on a protocol packet, thecontent of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group.

With reference to any one of the first aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the first aspect, in another implementation of thefirst aspect, the management channel is further used to negotiate, basedon the protocol packet, a change of the timeslot configuration tableand/or the configuration table of the physical connection group.

With reference to any one of the first aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the first aspect, in another implementation of thefirst aspect, all fields of M overhead code blocks in overhead codeblocks transmitted over each physical connection are used for themanagement channel, and M is a positive integer.

With reference to any one of the first aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the first aspect, in another implementation of thefirst aspect, the management channel is used to transmit the content ofthe timeslot configuration table and/or the content of the configurationtable of the physical connection group using an Ethernet packet, andsynchronization headers of the M overhead code blocks are used forsynchronization of the Ethernet packet.

With reference to any one of the first aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the first aspect, in another implementation of thefirst aspect, some fields of the overhead code block transmitted overeach physical connection are used for the management channel.

With reference to any one of the first aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the first aspect, in another implementation of thefirst aspect, the management channel is a management channel of eachphysical connection, different physical connections in the physicalconnection group correspond to different management channels, andcontent of a timeslot configuration table used by any physicalconnection in the physical connection group and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group are/is transmittedusing a management channel corresponding to the any physical connection.

With reference to any one of the first aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the first aspect, in another implementation of thefirst aspect, the management channel is a management channel of thephysical connection group, the multiple physical connections in thephysical connection group share the management channel of the physicalconnection group, and content of the timeslot configuration tables usedby the multiple physical connections and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group are/is transmittedusing the management channel of the physical connection group.

According to a second aspect, a method for transmitting a service streamin a flexible Ethernet is provided. The method includes receiving a datastream using a physical connection group. The physical connection groupincludes multiple physical connections and supports at least one virtualconnection. A target virtual connection in the at least one virtualconnection is used to transmit a service stream. An overhead code blocktransmitted over each physical connection in the multiple physicalconnections includes a first field. The first field indicates anidentifier of a timeslot configuration table used by each physicalconnection. The overhead code block transmitted over each physicalconnection further includes fields used for a management channel. Themanagement channel is used to, when the timeslot configuration tableused by each physical connection changes, transmit content of a changedtimeslot configuration table. The method also includes determining, fromtotal bandwidth resources of the multiple physical connections andaccording to timeslot configuration tables used by the multiple physicalconnections, a timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the targetvirtual connection, where the timeslot configuration table used by eachphysical connection indicates a virtual connection to which eachtimeslot bandwidth resource obtained by dividing a bandwidth resource ofeach physical connection belongs. The method also includes restoring,from the data stream and according to the timeslot bandwidth resourcethat belongs to the target virtual connection, the service streamtransmitted over the target virtual connection.

With reference to the second aspect, in an implementation of the secondaspect, the management channel is further used to, when a configurationtable of the physical connection group changes, transmit content of achanged configuration table of the physical connection group. Theconfiguration table of the physical connection group indicates anidentifier of each physical connection in the physical connection groupand a sequence between the physical connections.

With reference to the second aspect or the foregoing implementation ofthe second aspect, in another implementation of the second aspect, themanagement channel is used to transmit, based on a protocol packet, thecontent of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group.

With reference to any one of the second aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the second aspect, in another implementation of thesecond aspect, the management channel is further used to negotiate,based on the protocol packet, a change of the timeslot configurationtable and/or the configuration table of the physical connection group.

With reference to any one of the second aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the second aspect, in another implementation of thesecond aspect, all fields of M overhead code blocks in overhead codeblocks transmitted over each physical connection are used for themanagement channel, and M is a positive integer.

With reference to any one of the second aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the second aspect, in another implementation of thesecond aspect, the management channel is used to transmit the content ofthe timeslot configuration table and/or the content of the configurationtable of the physical connection group using an Ethernet packet, andsynchronization headers of the M overhead code blocks are used forsynchronization of the Ethernet packet.

With reference to any one of the second aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the second aspect, in another implementation of thesecond aspect, some fields of the overhead code block transmitted overeach physical connection are used for the management channel.

With reference to any one of the second aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the second aspect, in another implementation of thesecond aspect, the management channel is a management channel of eachphysical connection. Different physical connections in the physicalconnection group correspond to different management channels. Content ofa timeslot configuration table used by any physical connection in thephysical connection group and/or the content of the configuration tableof the physical connection group are/is transmitted by using amanagement channel corresponding to the any physical connection.

With reference to any one of the second aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the second aspect, in another implementation of thesecond aspect, the management channel is a management channel of thephysical connection group. The multiple physical connections in thephysical connection group share the management channel of the physicalconnection group, and content of the timeslot configuration tables usedby the multiple physical connections and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group are/is transmittedusing the management channel of the physical connection group.

According to a third aspect, a transmitter is provided. The transmitterincludes an obtaining module, configured to obtain a to-be-transmittedservice stream. The service stream is to be transmitted using a targetvirtual connection supported by a physical connection group between atransmit end and a receive end. The physical connection group includesmultiple physical connections and supports at least one virtualconnection, and the target virtual connection is any one of the at leastone virtual connection. The transmitter also includes a determiningmodule, configured to determine, from total bandwidth resources of themultiple physical connections and according to timeslot configurationtables used by the multiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidthresource that belongs to the target virtual connection. A timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection is used to indicatea virtual connection to which each timeslot bandwidth resource obtainedby dividing a bandwidth resource of each physical connection belongs.The transmitter also includes a transmission module, configured totransmit the service stream to the receive end using the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection. Anoverhead code block transmitted over each physical connection includes afirst field. The first field indicates an identifier of the timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection. The overhead codeblock transmitted over each physical connection further includes fieldsused for a management channel. The management channel is used to, whenthe timeslot configuration table used by each physical connectionchanges, transmit content of a changed timeslot configuration table.

With reference to the third aspect, in an implementation of the thirdaspect, the management channel is further used to, when a configurationtable of the physical connection group changes, transmit content of achanged configuration table of the physical connection group. Theconfiguration table of the physical connection group is used to indicatean identifier of each physical connection in the physical connectiongroup and a sequence between the physical connections.

With reference to the third aspect or the foregoing implementation ofthe third aspect, in another implementation of the third aspect, themanagement channel is used to transmit, based on a protocol packet, thecontent of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group.

With reference to any one of the third aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the third aspect, in another implementation of thethird aspect, the management channel is further used to negotiate, basedon the protocol packet, a change of the timeslot configuration tableand/or the configuration table of the physical connection group.

With reference to any one of the third aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the third aspect, in another implementation of thethird aspect, all fields of M overhead code blocks in overhead codeblocks transmitted over each physical connection are used for themanagement channel, and M is a positive integer.

With reference to any one of the third aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the third aspect, in another implementation of thethird aspect, the management channel is used to transmit the content ofthe timeslot configuration table and/or the content of the configurationtable of the physical connection group by using an Ethernet packet, andsynchronization headers of the M overhead code blocks are used forsynchronization of the Ethernet packet.

With reference to any one of the third aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the third aspect, in another implementation of thethird aspect, some fields of the overhead code block transmitted overeach physical connection are used for the management channel.

With reference to any one of the third aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the third aspect, in another implementation of thethird aspect, the management channel is a management channel of eachphysical connection. Different physical connections in the physicalconnection group correspond to different management channels. Content ofa timeslot configuration table used by any physical connection in thephysical connection group and/or the content of the configuration tableof the physical connection group are/is transmitted by using amanagement channel corresponding to the any physical connection.

With reference to any one of the third aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the third aspect, in another implementation of thethird aspect, the management channel is a management channel of thephysical connection group. The multiple physical connections in thephysical connection group share the management channel of the physicalconnection group. Content of the timeslot configuration tables used bythe multiple physical connections and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group are/is transmittedusing the management channel of the physical connection group.

According to a fourth aspect, a receiver is provided. The receiverincludes a receiving module, configured to receive a data stream byusing a physical connection group. The physical connection groupincludes multiple physical connections and supports at least one virtualconnection. A target virtual connection in the at least one virtualconnection is used to transmit a service stream. An overhead code blocktransmitted over each physical connection in the multiple physicalconnections includes a first field. The first field indicates anidentifier of a timeslot configuration table used by each physicalconnection. The overhead code block transmitted over each physicalconnection further includes fields used for a management channel. Themanagement channel is used to, when the timeslot configuration tableused by each physical connection changes, transmit content of a changedtimeslot configuration table. The receiver also includes a determiningmodule, configured to determine, from total bandwidth resources of themultiple physical connections and according to timeslot configurationtables used by the multiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidthresource that belongs to the target virtual connection. The timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection is used to indicatea virtual connection to which each timeslot bandwidth resource obtainedby dividing a bandwidth resource of each physical connection belongs.The receiver also includes a restoration module, configured to restore,from the data stream and according to the timeslot bandwidth resourcethat belongs to the target virtual connection, the service streamtransmitted over the target virtual connection.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in an implementation of the fourthaspect, the management channel is further used to: when a configurationtable of the physical connection group changes, transmit content of achanged configuration table of the physical connection group, where theconfiguration table of the physical connection group is used to indicatean identifier of each physical connection in the physical connectiongroup and a sequence between the physical connections.

With reference to the fourth aspect or the foregoing implementation ofthe fourth aspect, in another implementation of the fourth aspect, themanagement channel is used to transmit, based on a protocol packet, thecontent of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group.

With reference to any one of the fourth aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the fourth aspect, in another implementation of thefourth aspect, the management channel is further used to negotiate,based on the protocol packet, a change of the timeslot configurationtable and/or the configuration table of the physical connection group.

With reference to any one of the fourth aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the fourth aspect, in another implementation of thefourth aspect, all fields of M overhead code blocks in overhead codeblocks transmitted over each physical connection are used for themanagement channel, and M is a positive integer.

With reference to any one of the fourth aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the fourth aspect, in another implementation of thefourth aspect, the management channel is used to transmit the content ofthe timeslot configuration table and/or the content of the configurationtable of the physical connection group by using an Ethernet packet, andsynchronization headers of the M overhead code blocks are used forsynchronization of the Ethernet packet.

With reference to any one of the fourth aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the fourth aspect, in another implementation of thefourth aspect, some fields of the overhead code block transmitted overeach physical connection are used for the management channel.

With reference to any one of the fourth aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the fourth aspect, in another implementation of thefourth aspect, the management channel is a management channel of eachphysical connection, different physical connections in the physicalconnection group correspond to different management channels, andcontent of a timeslot configuration table used by any physicalconnection in the physical connection group and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group are/is transmittedby using a management channel corresponding to the any physicalconnection.

With reference to any one of the fourth aspect or the foregoingimplementations of the fourth aspect, in another implementation of thefourth aspect, the management channel is a management channel of thephysical connection group, the multiple physical connections in thephysical connection group share the management channel of the physicalconnection group, and content of the timeslot configuration tables usedby the multiple physical connections and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group are/is transmittedby using the management channel of the physical connection group.

Most fields in an overhead area are fields used for a managementchannel, or are occupied by a management channel. However, these fieldsare not fully used. In the embodiments of the present invention, a firstfield is defined in an overhead code block of each physical connection.The first field indicates an identifier of a timeslot configurationtable used by a current physical connection, and is used to transmit,when the timeslot configuration table changes, content of a changedtimeslot configuration table to a receive end using the managementchannel. That is, a specific field needs to be defined only for theidentifier of the timeslot configuration table in the overhead area, andthe content of the timeslot configuration table is transmitted over themanagement channel. This effectively reduces a waste of overheadresources, and provides higher flexibility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the presentinvention more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanyingdrawings required for describing the embodiments of the presentinvention. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the followingdescription show merely some embodiments of the present invention, and aperson of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings fromthese accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a data frame structure in a flexibleEthernet;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an overhead area formed by overheadcode blocks in a basic frame period in the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for transmitting a servicestream in a flexible Ethernet according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for transmitting a servicestream in a flexible Ethernet according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmitter according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a receiver according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmitter according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a receiver according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a method for transmitting a datastream in a flexible Ethernet according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a method for transmitting a servicestream in a flexible Ethernet according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmitter according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a receiver according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmitter according toan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a receiver according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The following describes the technical solutions in the embodiments ofthe present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in theembodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the describedembodiments are a part rather than all of the embodiments of the presentinvention. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skillin the art based on the embodiments of the present invention withoutcreative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the presentinvention.

For ease of understanding, a current system is briefly described first.

FIG. 1 shows a data frame structure in a flexible Ethernet. In FIG. 1,in one subframe period, an overhead code block in the FlexEth isfollowed by several information code blocks with a 64×66b structure,such as 20,480 information code blocks with the 64×66b structure.Several consecutive subframe periods (usually four subframes) constituteone basic frame. Several consecutive basic frames (usually 40 basicframes) constitute one super frame.

FIG. 2 is an overhead area formed by overhead code blocks in one basicframe period. One basic frame usually includes four subframes, a headerof each subframe includes one overhead code block, and there are fouroverhead code blocks in total. In the FlexEth, one overhead code blockusually includes 66 bits, and 4×66 bits of the four overhead code blocksjointly constitute an overhead area 210 shown in FIG. 2. In the currentsystem, the overhead area is used to transmit content of a timeslotconfiguration table of a physical connection. Table 1A shows theoverhead area 210 in the current system.

TABLE 1A The overhead area 210 in the prior art (bits 0 to 31) SH 0 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 1 0 0x4B UC PCPF PHY Map 0 1 UC FlexE Group Number Client 0 1 UC Reserved 0 1 SH 24 2526 27 28 29 30 31 1 0 This PHY 0 1 0 1 0 1 The overhead area 210 in theprior art (bits 32 to 63) 32 33 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Ox50x000_0000 The overhead area 210 in the prior art (bits 32 to 63) 4 4 55 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 59 60 61 62 63 CRC-16

Table 1A shows an overhead area of a physical connection. In the currentsystem, an overhead area of each physical connection in a physicalconnection group is the same as that shown in Table 1. In Table 1A, aPHY Map field is used to transmit content of a configuration table of aphysical connection group. This PHY is an identifier of a currentphysical connection. FlexE Group Number is an identifier of a physicalconnection group to which the current physical connection belongs. AClient field is used to transmit content of a timeslot configurationtable used by the current physical connection. Certainly, some fieldsused for other purposes are further included in Table 1, such as asynchronization header field SH. All remaining empty fields other thanparticular fields identified in Table 1A are used for a managementchannel, or are occupied by a management channel. It can be learned fromTable 1A, a large part (18 octets) of the overhead area 210 is used forthe management channel.

In the current system, a bandwidth resource of each physical connectionis usually divided into bandwidth resources of 20 timeslots. A transmitend and a receive end are usually configured with two timeslotconfiguration tables: Calender A and Calender B. In the current system,content of these two tables needs to be transmitted over the Clientfield, and a transmission manner is shown in Table 1B.

TABLE 1B A process of carrying timeslot configuration tables Calender Aand Calender B in the Client field 0 Calendar A Client Slot 0 0 CalendarA Client Slot 1 . . . 0 Calendar A Client Slot 19 1 Calendar B ClientSlot 0 1 Calendar B Client Slot 1 . . . 1 Calendar B Client Slot 19

In Table 1B, 0 and 1 in the first row are values of a PC field in theoverhead area 210. The PC field may indicate a table that is currentlyused by the current physical connection: Calendar A or Calendar B. Asshown in Table 2, fields PC corresponding to Calendar A are all 0, andfields PC corresponding to Calendar B are all 1. It indicates that thecurrent physical connection currently uses Calendar B, instead ofCalender A. In addition, each basic frame period can only indicate avirtual connection to which one timeslot resource belongs, and eachtimeslot configuration table indicates virtual connections to whichresources of 20 timeslots corresponding to physical connections belong.Therefore, at least 40 basic frame periods are needed to transmitcomplete Calendar A and Calendar B, and efficiency is extremely low. Inaddition, one of Calendar A or Calendar B is not used, and it isequivalent to that overhead resources are wasted for transmittingunwanted information.

To avoid a waste of overhead resources, an embodiment of the presentinvention provides a method for transmitting a service stream in aflexible Ethernet. Details are described in the following with referenceto FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for transmitting a servicestream in a flexible Ethernet according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The method in FIG. 3 may be executed by a transmit end. Themethod includes the following steps.

310. Obtain a to-be-transmitted service stream, where the service streamis to be transmitted by using a target virtual connection supported by aphysical connection group between a transmit end and a receive end. Thephysical connection group includes multiple physical connections andsupports at least one virtual connection. The target virtual connectionis any one of the at least one virtual connection.

It should be understood that the foregoing physical connection group maybe considered as a logical connection between the transmit end and thereceive end, and a bandwidth of the logical connection may be a sum ofbandwidths of all physical connections in the physical connection group.

It should be further understood that, in a flexible Ethernet, totalbandwidth resources of the physical connection group are divided intobandwidth resources of several timeslots obtained using time division inthe physical connection group, so as to support a virtual connection.Specifically, a bandwidth resource of a physical connection in thephysical connection group may be divided into multiple timeslotbandwidth resources. Different timeslot bandwidth resources may belongto the same or different virtual connections, and timeslot bandwidthresources that belong to the same virtual connection are used totransmit a same service stream. The physical connection group maysupport one or more virtual connections, and different service streams(or service streams of different clients) may be transmitted overdifferent virtual connections.

320. Determine, from total bandwidth resources of the multiple physicalconnections and according to timeslot configuration tables used by themultiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidth resource thatbelongs to the target virtual connection, where a timeslot configurationtable used by each physical connection indicates a virtual connection towhich each timeslot resource obtained by dividing a bandwidth resourceof each physical connection belongs.

It should be understood that the timeslot configuration table used byeach physical connection may be used to record a correspondence betweeneach timeslot bandwidth resource of the physical connection and avirtual connection supported by the physical connection group. Onetimeslot bandwidth resource corresponds to one virtual connection, anddifferent timeslot bandwidth resources may correspond to the same or todifferent virtual connections.

330. Transmit the service stream to the receive end using the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection. Anoverhead code block transmitted over each physical connection includes afirst field. The first field indicates an identifier of the timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection. The overhead codeblock transmitted over each physical connection further includes fieldsused for a management channel. The management channel is used to, whenthe timeslot configuration table used by each physical connectionchanges, transmit content of a changed timeslot configuration table.

It should be understood that the overhead code block that is transmittedover each physical connection further including fields used for amanagement channel may be as follows. The overhead code blocktransmitted over each physical connection further includes a fieldoccupied by the management channel. The management channel may occupyfields of overhead code blocks in multiple manners. For example, themanagement channel may occupy some fields of an overhead code block; ormay occupy all fields (including synchronization headers) of someoverhead code blocks. That is, the management channel occupies a wholeoverhead code block. Certainly, alternatively, a combination of the twomanners may be used. This is not specifically limited in this embodimentof the present invention. An example is used for description. In fourconsecutive overhead code blocks, the management channel does not occupya field of a first overhead code block, but occupies some fields of thelast three overhead code blocks. Alternatively, in 20 consecutiveoverhead code blocks, the management channel does not occupy any fieldof the first three overhead code blocks, but occupies all fields of thelast 17 overhead code blocks. That is, the management channel occupiesthe last 17 overhead code blocks.

It should be noted that, a change of the timeslot configuration tableused by each physical connection may specifically indicate an update tocontent of the timeslot configuration table of each physical connection,or may indicate that each physical connection uses a new timeslotconfiguration table to replace an old timeslot configuration table.

The foregoing first field may be a field that is specially defined toindicate an identifier of the timeslot configuration table used by eachphysical connection. For example, the identifier of the timeslotconfiguration table may be indicated by using Slot Configuration TableID. A transmit end and a receive end may uniquely identify a timeslotconfiguration table by using the identifier of the timeslotconfiguration table.

Specifically, enough identifiers of the timeslot configuration table maybe pre-configured, so as to distinguish between timeslot configurationtables of all physical connections in the physical connection group.That a length of an identifier of a physical connection in the physicalconnection group is 8 bits is used as an example. One physicalconnection group may include a maximum of 256 physical connections. Itis assumed that n labels, such as oxoo, 0xFF, and the like, are used asreserved labels and used for other purposes. In this case, the physicalconnection group may include a maximum of 256-n physical connections.Timeslot configuration tables used by the physical connections in thephysical connection group may be the same, or may be different. For sametimeslot configuration tables, a same timeslot configuration tableidentifier may be used. In general, in an extreme case, 256-nidentifiers for timeslot configuration tables that are being used may beneeded to identify the 256-n timeslot configuration tables that arebeing used. That is, one timeslot configuration table is used by eachphysical connection. In this case, no timeslot configuration tableidentifier is available for a new timeslot configuration table.Therefore, some reserved identifiers are further needed. For example, anidentifier=0x00 or 0xFF or both of the timeslot configuration table areused as reserved identifiers. If no other timeslot configuration tableis available, and a timeslot configuration table needs to be updated, anidentifier of the timeslot configuration table of the physicalconnection may be temporarily switched to a reserved identifier before aprocess for negotiating the update of the timeslot configuration tablebegins, and is switched back to an identifier, other than the reservedidentifier, of a normal timeslot configuration table after the update iscomplete. Alternatively, identifiers=0-255 of the timeslot configurationtables are treated equally. Therefore, in any case, the 256-n physicalconnections cannot use all of the 256 identifiers of the timeslotconfiguration tables. That is, at least one of the identifiers of thetimeslot configuration tables is available. After a new table is used bya physical connection, an original table may be abolished, and anidentifier of the timeslot configuration table of the physicalconnection may be retrieved for use. Further, there is a simpler manner.That is, a manner of extending a field length of Slot ConfigurationTable ID to, for example, 9 bits may be used. 9 bits can be used todistinguish between 512 tables. Certainly, alternatively, the identifierof the timeslot configuration table used by the physical connection maynot be changed, and only content of the timeslot configuration tableused by the physical connection group is updated. This is notspecifically limited in this embodiment of the present invention.

Most fields in an overhead area are fields used for a managementchannel, or are occupied by a management channel. However, these fieldsare not fully used. In this embodiment of the present invention, a firstfield is defined in an overhead code block of each physical connection.The first field indicates an identifier of a timeslot configurationtable used by a current physical connection, and is used to transmit,when the timeslot configuration table changes, content of a changedtimeslot configuration table to a receive end using the managementchannel. That is, a specific field needs to be defined only for theidentifier of the timeslot configuration table in the overhead area, andthe content of the timeslot configuration table is transmitted over themanagement channel. This effectively reduces a waste of overheadresources, and provides higher flexibility.

Optionally, in an embodiment, M overhead code blocks transmitted overeach physical connection may be all used for the management channel.Table 2 is used as an example for description in the following. Table 2shows a definition manner of an overhead area according to an embodimentof the present invention.

TABLE 2 An overhead area (bits 0 to 31) SH 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 1 0 0x78 0xAA 0 1 0 1 Management Channel SH 16 17 18 19 20 2122 23 24 25 27 28 29 30 31 1 0 Group ID Label This Phy ID Label 0 1 0 1Management Channel An overhead area (bits 32 to 63) 32 33 34 35 36 37 3839 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Next Phy ID Label Slot Configuration TableID Slot Configuration Table ID Slot Configuration Table ID ManagementChannel An overhead area (bits 32 to 63) 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 5859 60 61 62 63 0xAA CRC-16 Management Channel

In Table 2, This Phy ID Label is an identifier of a current physicalconnection. Next Phy ID Label is an identifier of a next physicalconnection of the current physical connection in the physical connectiongroup. Slot Configuration Table ID is a timeslot configuration tableidentifier. In an embodiment corresponding to Table 2, to avoid anerror, the identifier of the timeslot configuration table is transmittedthree times. When identifiers of the timeslot configuration table thatare transmitted three times and received by the receive end areinconsistent, an identifier with a largest quantity among the receivedidentifiers is preferred. Certainly, alternatively, the identifier ofthe timeslot configuration table may be transmitted only once, or theidentifier of the timeslot configuration table is transmitted moretimes. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of thepresent invention. In addition, in the embodiment corresponding to Table2, a specific field for a CRC check is defined in the overhead area, soas to further ensure accurate transmission of the identifier of thetimeslot configuration table. Certainly, alternatively, the field maynot be defined in actual situation. In Table 2, the management channeloccupies at least one overhead code block (including a synchronizationheader) after the first three overhead code blocks. That is, all fieldsof the at least one overhead code block are used for the managementchannel. Certainly, alternatively, the management channel may occupyonly some fields of some overhead code blocks, or occupy some fields ofsome overhead code blocks and occupy all fields of other overhead codeblocks. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of thepresent invention.

Optionally, in an embodiment, some fields of the overhead code blocktransmitted over each physical connection are used for the managementchannel. Table 3A and Table 3B are used as examples for description inthe following. An overhead area in Table 3A is an overhead area formedby four overhead code blocks in one basic frame.

TABLE 3A An overhead area (bits 0 to 31) SH 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 1 0 0x4B Last Phy ID Label 0 1 RF R R R R R R R Group ID Label0 1 Reserved 0 1 SH 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 0This Phy ID Label Next Phy ID Label 0 1 Slot Configuration Table ID 0 10 1 An overhead area (bits 32 to 63) 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 4344 45 46 47 0x5 An overhead area (bits 32 to 63) 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 5556 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 CRC-16

In an embodiment corresponding to Table 3A, bits 16 to 23 of a secondoverhead code block in one basic frame period are defined as a firstfield, and are used to transmit the identifier of the timeslotconfiguration table (e.g., Slot Configuration Table ID in Table 3A).Other unidentified areas belong to the management channel, and someareas in the management channel may be used to transmit the content ofthe timeslot configuration table.

TABLE 3B An overhead area (bits 0 to 31) SH 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 1 0 0x4B C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 0 1 E Calendar slot #(ID) AB 0 1 ECalendar slot #(ID) AB SH 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3031 1 0 C8 C9 0 1 0 1 An overhead area (bits 32 to 63) 32 33 34 35 36 3738 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 0x5 Client ID Client ID An overhead area(bits 32 to 63) 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 CRC-16

In Table 3B, all or some of the unidentified areas may be used for themanagement channel. For example, fields used for the management channelinclude: an E field, a Calendar slot #(ID) field, an AB field, and aClient field of the second overhead code block; and an E field, aCalendar slot #(ID) field, an AB field, and a Client field of a thirdoverhead code block. The foregoing four fields of the second overheadcode block constitute one management channel, and the foregoing fourfields of the third overhead code block constitute another managementchannel. Either of the management channels can bear a small message(e.g., a micro packet), and the message may be an empty message or anon-empty message. The management channel may be used to transmit thecontent of the timeslot configuration table, or the like. A messageformat of the management channel is as follows:

E Calendar slot #(ID) AB Client . . . 0 Null 1 1 A Client ID = 0x3335 19 A Client ID = 0x3336 0 Null . . .

E is used to identify whether the message is an empty message or anon-empty message. E=0 indicates that the message is an empty message,and E=1 indicates that the message is a non-empty message. Further, thenon-empty message is used to transmit an identifier of a virtualconnection to which a timeslot bandwidth resource belongs in thetimeslot configuration table A or the timeslot configuration table B,that is, Client ID in the above table.

The AB field indicates that an identifier of a virtual connection in themessage is an identifier in Calendar A or an identifier in Calendar B.The Calendar slot #(ID) field indicates a timeslot bandwidth resource towhich the identifier of the virtual connection in the messagecorresponds in the current physical connection. The Client ID fieldindicates an identifier of a virtual connection to which the timeslotbandwidth resource belongs. When the timeslot configuration table of thephysical connection changes, the foregoing some fields used for themanagement channel may be used to indicate a changed timeslotconfiguration table; or when the timeslot configuration table is notupdated, the fields may be set as empty or other special fields, and arenot used to transmit information of the timeslot configuration table.The foregoing some fields used for the management channel are used toidentify a start location and an end location of the packet based on adetermined location of a determined code block that includes the somefields. It is equivalent to that transmission of the content of thetimeslot configuration table over the management channel is achieved byusing a micro packet. C1-C9 in the overhead area correspond to timeslotconfiguration tables used by nine timeslot bandwidth resources. C1 isused to indicate that a timeslot configuration table used by a timeslotbandwidth resource 1 is Calendar A or Calendar B. That is, the timeslotbandwidth resource belongs to a virtual link in a timeslot configurationtable.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used totransmit, based on a protocol packet, the content of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the content of the configuration table of thephysical connection group.

The protocol packet includes an Ethernet packet, a High-Level Data LinkControl (HDLC) packet, or a point to point (PPP) packet.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used tonegotiate a change of the timeslot configuration table based on theprotocol packet.

It should be understood that the management channel being further usedto negotiate a change of the timeslot configuration table based on theprotocol packet may include the following. When the timeslotconfiguration table changes, the transmit end sends a request packetover the management channel, where the request packet carries thecontent of the changed timeslot configuration table. The transmit endreceives a response packet from the receive end, where the responsepacket is used to instruct the receive end to determine the change ofthe timeslot configuration table. Alternatively, the transmit endreceives a response packet from the receive end, where the responsepacket is used to instruct the receive end to deny the change of thetimeslot configuration table. In this case, the transmit end may send arequest packet again before an acknowledgment is received from thereceive end.

Table 4 shows a format of a protocol packet transmitted over amanagement channel. Client ID Label for Slot o is used to indicate anidentifier of a virtual connection to which a timeslot o of a currentphysical connection belongs. Likewise, Client ID Label for Slot m isused to indicate an identifier of a virtual connection to which atimeslot m of the current physical connection belongs. In addition, afield that is used to indicate a start location and an end location ofthe packet, a CRC check field, or the like may be further added into thepacket. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of thepresent invention.

TABLE 4 A format of a protocol packet according to an embodiment of thepresent invention Group ID Label This PHY ID Label Client ID Label forSlot 0 Client ID Label for Slot 1 . . . Client ID Label for Slot m − 1Client ID Label for Slot m

Table 5 shows another format of a protocol packet transmitted over amanagement channel. A field CRC is used for CRC check, so as to avoid abit error operation. In addition, idle octets are added at two ends ofthe packet, so as to identify a start location and an end location ofthe packet. An example of an idle octet is 0×55. When coding isperformed, an indication bit=1 may be added to indicate that theindication bit is an idle octet between packets. For example, whenanother effective packet octet is coded, an indication bit=1 is added toidentify a start, continuance, and an end of the packet. MessageType=0x01 may be used to indicate that a type of the packet is a packetthat is used to indicate a change of the timeslot configuration table.Message Length=m+4 may be used to indicate a length of the packet.

TABLE 5 A format of a protocol packet according to an embodiment of thepresent invention . . . Idle Octets Message Type = 0x01 Message Length =m + 4 Phy ID Label 1 Phy ID Label 2 . . . Phy ID Label m − 1 Phy IDLabel m CRC Idle Octets . . .

After receiving the packet, the receive end may reply with anacknowledgment packet or a non-acknowledgment packet. The acknowledgmentpacket and the non-acknowledgment packet may be identified by using afield Message Type. A value of Message Type for the acknowledgmentpacket may be 0×02, and a value of the Message Type for thenon-acknowledgment packet may be 0×03. It should be noted that, thefield Message Length of the foregoing packet is optional, and may not becarried.

It should be understood that, the receive end and the transmit end maynegotiate a change of a timeslot configuration table, and agree that aservice stream in a current period is received or transmitted stillbased on the unchanged timeslot configuration table. Content of a newlyconfigured timeslot configuration table is sent to the receive end inthe current frame period. After the receive end receives the changedtimeslot configuration table, in a next or n frame periods (a specifictime may be negotiated by the transmit end and the receive end)following the current frame period, the transmit end and the receive endreceive and transmit a service stream according to a changed timeslotconfiguration table that is determined by means of negotiation. For aspecific process, refer to Table 6.

TABLE 6 A relationship table between an update of a timeslotconfiguration table and receiving and transmission of a service streamBasic frame Basic frame Basic frame Basic frame Basic frame period 1period 2 period 3 period 4 period 5 Timeslot Next Next Next Next . . .configuration configuration configuration configuration configurationtable for a timeslot for a timeslot for a timeslot for a timeslotconfiguration configuration configuration configuration table is tableis table is table is configuration configuration configurationconfiguration 1 2 3 4 Receiving . . . A service is A service is Aservice is A service is and received or received or received or receivedor transmission transmitted transmitted transmitted transmitted of aservice based on the based on the based on the based on the streamconfiguration configuration configuration configuration 1 of the 2 ofthe 3 of the 4 of the timeslot timeslot timeslot timeslot configurationconfiguration configuration configuration table table table table

It may be learned from Table 6 that, even if a timeslot configurationtable changes in one basic frame period, before a next basic frameperiod arrives, the service stream in a current basic frame period isreceived or transmitted still based on the unchanged timeslotconfiguration table.

Optionally, in an embodiment, all fields of M overhead code blocks inoverhead code blocks transmitted over each physical connection are usedfor the management channel, and M is a positive integer.

That is, the M code blocks are used for the management channel, or themanagement channel occupies the M code blocks, including synchronizationheaders of the M code blocks.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used to transmitthe content of the timeslot configuration table by using an Ethernetpacket, and synchronization headers of the M overhead code blocks areused for synchronization of the Ethernet packet.

Certainly, alternatively, the management channel may use a packet ofanother protocol, such as an HDLC packet or a PPP packet.Synchronization of such a packet may be performed by using a specificsynchronization manner of the another protocol.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of each physical connection, different physical connections inthe physical connection group correspond to different managementchannels, and content of a timeslot configuration table used by anyphysical connection in the physical connection group is transmitted byusing a management channel corresponding to the any physical connection.

Specifically, alternatively, the management channel of each physicalconnection may be referred to as a separated management channel of eachphysical connection. That is, one management channel is used to transmitrelated information of only one physical connection.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of the physical connection group, the multiple physicalconnections in the physical connection group share the managementchannel of the physical connection group, and content of the timeslotconfiguration tables used by the multiple physical connections istransmitted by using the management channel of the physical connectiongroup.

Specifically, alternatively, the management channel of the physicalconnection group may be referred to as a management channel aggregated(or cascaded) with multiple physical connections. That is, onemanagement channel is used to transmit related information of allphysical connections in a whole physical connection group.

It should be noted that, the identifier and the transmission manner ofthe timeslot configuration table are used as examples for description inthe following. A configuration table of the physical connection groupmay also be transmitted in a similar manner. For example, content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group is transmitted overthe management channel, and an identifier of the configuration table ofthe physical connection group is transmitted by using a field speciallydefined in the overhead area. The management channel used to transmitthe configuration table of the physical connection group may be amanagement channel corresponding to each physical connection, or may bea management channel corresponding to the physical connection group. Inaddition, the management channel may be used to transmit the content ofthe configuration table of the physical connection group based on aprotocol packet, and be used to negotiate and update the configurationtable based on the protocol packet. Details are not described in thisembodiment of the present invention again.

The foregoing has described in detail, with reference to FIG. 3, themethod for transmitting a service stream in a flexible Ethernetaccording to an embodiment of the present invention from the perspectiveof the transmit end. The following describes in detail, with referenceto FIG. 4, a method for transmitting a service stream in a flexibleEthernet according to an embodiment of the present invention from theperspective of the receive end.

It should be understood that, interaction, a related characteristic, anda related function of the transmit end and the receive end describedfrom the perspective of the transmit end are corresponding to thosedescribed from the perspective of the receive end. For brevity, repeateddescriptions are appropriately omitted.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for transmitting a servicestream in a flexible Ethernet according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The method in FIG. 4 may be executed by a receive end. Themethod includes the following steps.

410. Receive a data stream using a physical connection group, where thephysical connection group includes multiple physical connections andsupports at least one virtual connection. A target virtual connection inthe at least one virtual connection is used to transmit a servicestream. An overhead code block transmitted over each physical connectionin the multiple physical connections includes a first field, and thefirst field indicates an identifier of a timeslot configuration tableused by each physical connection. The overhead code block transmittedover each physical connection further includes fields used for amanagement channel, and the management channel is used to, when thetimeslot configuration table used by each physical connection changes,transmit content of a changed timeslot configuration table.

420. Determine, from total bandwidth resources of the multiple physicalconnections and according to timeslot configuration tables used by themultiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidth resource thatbelongs to the target virtual connection, where the timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection is used to indicatea virtual connection to which each timeslot bandwidth resource obtainedby dividing a bandwidth resource of each physical connection belongs.

430. Restore, from the data stream and according to the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection, theservice stream transmitted over the target virtual connection.

Most fields in an overhead area are fields used for a managementchannel, or are occupied by a management channel. However, these fieldsare not fully used. In this embodiment of the present invention, a firstfield is defined in an overhead code block of each physical connection.The first field indicates an identifier of a timeslot configurationtable used by a current physical connection, and is used to transmit,when the timeslot configuration table changes, content of a changedtimeslot configuration table to a receive end using the managementchannel. That is, a specific field needs to be defined only for theidentifier of the timeslot configuration table in the overhead area, andthe content of the timeslot configuration table is transmitted over themanagement channel. This effectively reduces a waste of overheadresources, and provides higher flexibility.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used to:when a configuration table of the physical connection group changes,transmit content of a changed configuration table of the physicalconnection group, where the configuration table of the physicalconnection group is used to indicate an identifier of each physicalconnection in the physical connection group and a sequence between thephysical connections.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used totransmit, based on a protocol packet, the content of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the content of the configuration table of thephysical connection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used tonegotiate, based on the protocol packet, a change of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the configuration table of the physicalconnection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, all fields of M overhead code blocks inoverhead code blocks transmitted over each physical connection are usedfor the management channel, and M is a positive integer.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used to transmitthe content of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content ofthe configuration table of the physical connection group by using anEthernet packet, and synchronization headers of the M overhead codeblocks are used for synchronization of the Ethernet packet.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of each physical connection. Different physical connections inthe physical connection group correspond to different managementchannels. Content of a timeslot configuration table used by any physicalconnection in the physical connection group, and/or the content of theconfiguration table of the physical connection group, are/is transmittedusing a management channel corresponding to the any physical connection.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of the physical connection group, the multiple physicalconnections in the physical connection group share the managementchannel of the physical connection group, and content of the timeslotconfiguration tables used by the multiple physical connections and/orthe content of the configuration table of the physical connection groupare/is transmitted using the management channel of the physicalconnection group.

The foregoing has described in detail, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG.4, the method for transmitting a service stream in a flexible Ethernetaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The followingdescribes in detail, with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8A, a transmitterand a receiver according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmitter according toan embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that,the transmitter 500 in FIG. 5 can implement steps executed by thetransmit end in FIG. 3. To avoid repetition, details are not describedherein again. The transmitter 500 includes an obtaining module 510,configured to obtain a to-be-transmitted service stream, where theservice stream is to be transmitted by using a target virtual connectionsupported by a physical connection group between a transmit end and areceive end, the physical connection group includes multiple physicalconnections and supports at least one virtual connection, and the targetvirtual connection is any one of the at least one virtual connection.The transmitter 500 also includes a determining module 520, configuredto determine, from total bandwidth resources of the multiple physicalconnections and according to timeslot configuration tables used by themultiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidth resource thatbelongs to the target virtual connection, where a timeslot configurationtable used by each physical connection is used to indicate a virtualconnection to which each timeslot bandwidth resource obtained bydividing a bandwidth resource of each physical connection belongs. Thetransmitter 500 also includes a transmission module 530, configured totransmit the service stream to the receive end by using the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection, wherean overhead code block transmitted over each physical connectionincludes a first field, the first field indicates an identifier of thetimeslot configuration table used by each physical connection, theoverhead code block transmitted over each physical connection furtherincludes fields used for a management channel, and the managementchannel is used to: when the timeslot configuration table used by eachphysical connection changes, transmit content of a changed timeslotconfiguration table.

Most fields in an overhead area are fields used for a managementchannel, or are occupied by a management channel. However, these fieldsare not fully used. In this embodiment of the present invention, a firstfield is defined in an overhead code block of each physical connection.The first field indicates an identifier of a timeslot configurationtable used by a current physical connection, and is used to transmit,when the timeslot configuration table changes, content of a changedtimeslot configuration table to a receive end using the managementchannel. That is, a specific field needs to be defined only for theidentifier of the timeslot configuration table in the overhead area, andthe content of the timeslot configuration table is transmitted over themanagement channel. This effectively reduces a waste of overheadresources, and provides higher flexibility.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used to,when a configuration table of the physical connection group changes,transmit content of a changed configuration table of the physicalconnection group. The configuration table of the physical connectiongroup indicates an identifier of each physical connection in thephysical connection group and a sequence between the physicalconnections.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used totransmit, based on a protocol packet, the content of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the content of the configuration table of thephysical connection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used tonegotiate, based on the protocol packet, a change of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the configuration table of the physicalconnection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, all fields of M overhead code blocks inoverhead code blocks transmitted over each physical connection are usedfor the management channel, and M is a positive integer.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used to transmitthe content of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content ofthe configuration table of the physical connection group using anEthernet packet, and synchronization headers of the M overhead codeblocks are used for synchronization of the Ethernet packet.

Optionally, in an embodiment, some fields of the overhead code blocktransmitted over each physical connection are used for the managementchannel.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of each physical connection, different physical connections inthe physical connection group correspond to different managementchannels, and content of a timeslot configuration table used by anyphysical connection in the physical connection group and/or the contentof the configuration table of the physical connection group are/istransmitted by using a management channel corresponding to the anyphysical connection.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of the physical connection group. The multiple physicalconnections in the physical connection group share the managementchannel of the physical connection group. Content of the timeslotconfiguration tables used by the multiple physical connections and/orthe content of the configuration table of the physical connection groupare/is transmitted by using the management channel of the physicalconnection group.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a receiver according to anembodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that, thereceiver 600 in FIG. 6 can implement steps executed by the receive endin FIG. 4. To avoid repetition, details are not described herein again.The receiver 600 includes a receiving module 610, configured to receivea data stream by using a physical connection group, where the physicalconnection group includes multiple physical connections and supports atleast one virtual connection, a target virtual connection in the atleast one virtual connection is used to transmit a service stream, anoverhead code block transmitted over each physical connection in themultiple physical connections includes a first field, the first fieldindicates an identifier of a timeslot configuration table used by eachphysical connection, the overhead code block transmitted over eachphysical connection further includes fields used for a managementchannel, and the management channel is used to: when the timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection changes, transmitcontent of a changed timeslot configuration table. The receiver 600 alsoincludes a determining module 620, configured to determine, from totalbandwidth resources of the multiple physical connections and accordingto timeslot configuration tables used by the multiple physicalconnections, a timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the targetvirtual connection, where the timeslot configuration table used by eachphysical connection is used to indicate a virtual connection to whicheach timeslot bandwidth resource obtained by dividing a bandwidthresource of each physical connection belongs. The receiver 600 alsoincludes a restoration module 630, configured to restore, from the datastream and according to the timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs tothe target virtual connection, the service stream transmitted over thetarget virtual connection.

A large part of an overhead area is used for a management channel, or isoccupied by a management channel. However, this part of the overheadarea is not fully used. In this embodiment of the present invention, afirst field is defined in an overhead code block of each physicalconnection. The first field indicates an identifier of a timeslotconfiguration table used by a current physical connection, and is usedto transmit, when the timeslot configuration table changes, content of achanged timeslot configuration table to a receive end by using themanagement channel. That is, a specific field needs to be defined onlyfor the identifier of the timeslot configuration table in the overheadarea, and the content of the timeslot configuration table is transmittedover the management channel. This effectively reduces a waste ofoverhead resources, and provides higher flexibility.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used to,when a configuration table of the physical connection group changes,transmit content of a changed configuration table of the physicalconnection group, where the configuration table of the physicalconnection group is used to indicate an identifier of each physicalconnection in the physical connection group and a sequence between thephysical connections.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used totransmit, based on a protocol packet, the content of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the content of the configuration table of thephysical connection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used tonegotiate, based on the protocol packet, a change of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the configuration table of the physicalconnection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, all fields of M overhead code blocks inoverhead code blocks transmitted over each physical connection are usedfor the management channel, and M is a positive integer.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used to transmitthe content of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content ofthe configuration table of the physical connection group using anEthernet packet, and synchronization headers of the M overhead codeblocks are used for synchronization of the Ethernet packet.

Optionally, in an embodiment, some fields of the overhead code blocktransmitted over each physical connection are used for the managementchannel.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of each physical connection, different physical connections inthe physical connection group correspond to different managementchannels, and content of a timeslot configuration table used by anyphysical connection in the physical connection group and/or the contentof the configuration table of the physical connection group are/istransmitted by using a management channel corresponding to the anyphysical connection.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of the physical connection group, the multiple physicalconnections in the physical connection group share the managementchannel of the physical connection group, and content of the timeslotconfiguration tables used by the multiple physical connections and/orthe content of the configuration table of the physical connection groupare/is transmitted by using the management channel of the physicalconnection group.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmitter according toan embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that,the transmitter 700 in FIG. 7 can implement steps executed by thetransmit end in FIG. 3. To avoid repetition, details are not describedherein again. The transmitter 700 in FIG. 7 includes a memory 710,configured to store a program. Transmitter 700 also includes a processor720, configured to execute the program. When the program is executed,the processor 720 is configured to: obtain a to-be-transmitted servicestream, where the service stream is to be transmitted by using a targetvirtual connection supported by a physical connection group between atransmit end and a receive end, the physical connection group includesmultiple physical connections and supports at least one virtualconnection, and the target virtual connection is any one of the at leastone virtual connection; determine, from total bandwidth resources of themultiple physical connections and according to timeslot configurationtables used by the multiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidthresource that belongs to the target virtual connection, where a timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection is used to indicatea virtual connection to which each timeslot bandwidth resource obtainedby dividing a bandwidth resource of each physical connection belongs;and transmit the service stream to the receive end by using the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection, wherean overhead code block transmitted over each physical connectionincludes a first field, the first field indicates an identifier of thetimeslot configuration table used by each physical connection, theoverhead code block transmitted over each physical connection furtherincludes fields used for a management channel, and the managementchannel is used to: when the timeslot configuration table used by eachphysical connection changes, transmit content of a changed timeslotconfiguration table.

Most fields in an overhead area are fields used for a managementchannel, or are occupied by a management channel. However, these fieldsare not fully used. In this embodiment of the present invention, a firstfield is defined in an overhead code block of each physical connection.The first field indicates an identifier of a timeslot configurationtable used by a current physical connection, and is used to transmit,when the timeslot configuration table changes, content of a changedtimeslot configuration table to a receive end using the managementchannel. That is, a specific field needs to be defined only for theidentifier of the timeslot configuration table in the overhead area, andthe content of the timeslot configuration table is transmitted over themanagement channel. This effectively reduces a waste of overheadresources, and provides higher flexibility.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used to,when a configuration table of the physical connection group changes,transmit content of a changed configuration table of the physicalconnection group, where the configuration table of the physicalconnection group is used to indicate an identifier of each physicalconnection in the physical connection group and a sequence between thephysical connections.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used totransmit, based on a protocol packet, the content of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the content of the configuration table of thephysical connection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used tonegotiate, based on the protocol packet, a change of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the configuration table of the physicalconnection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, all fields of M overhead code blocks inoverhead code blocks transmitted over each physical connection are usedfor the management channel, and M is a positive integer.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used to transmitthe content of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content ofthe configuration table of the physical connection group by using anEthernet packet, and synchronization headers of the M overhead codeblocks are used for synchronization of the Ethernet packet.

Optionally, in an embodiment, some fields of the overhead code blocktransmitted over each physical connection are used for the managementchannel.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of each physical connection, different physical connections inthe physical connection group correspond to different managementchannels, and content of a timeslot configuration table used by anyphysical connection in the physical connection group and/or the contentof the configuration table of the physical connection group are/istransmitted by using a management channel corresponding to the anyphysical connection.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of the physical connection group, the multiple physicalconnections in the physical connection group share the managementchannel of the physical connection group, and content of the timeslotconfiguration tables used by the multiple physical connections and/orthe content of the configuration table of the physical connection groupare/is transmitted by using the management channel of the physicalconnection group.

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a receiver according to anembodiment of the present invention. The receiver 800 in FIG. 8 includesa memory 810, configured to store a program. The receiver 800 alsoincludes a processor 820, configured to execute the program. When theprogram is executed, the processor 820 is specifically configured to,receive a data stream by using a physical connection group, where thephysical connection group includes multiple physical connections andsupports at least one virtual connection, a target virtual connection inthe at least one virtual connection is used to transmit a servicestream, an overhead code block transmitted over each physical connectionin the multiple physical connections includes a first field, the firstfield indicates an identifier of a timeslot configuration table used byeach physical connection, the overhead code block transmitted over eachphysical connection further includes fields used for a managementchannel, and the management channel is used to: when the timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection changes, transmitcontent of a changed timeslot configuration table; determine, from totalbandwidth resources of the multiple physical connections and accordingto timeslot configuration tables used by the multiple physicalconnections, a timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the targetvirtual connection, where the timeslot configuration table used by eachphysical connection is used to indicate a virtual connection to whicheach timeslot bandwidth resource obtained by dividing a bandwidthresource of each physical connection belongs; and restore, from the datastream and according to the timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs tothe target virtual connection, the service stream transmitted over thetarget virtual connection.

Most fields in an overhead area are fields used for a managementchannel, or are occupied by a management channel. However, these fieldsare not fully used. In this embodiment of the present invention, a firstfield is defined in an overhead code block of each physical connection.The first field indicates an identifier of a timeslot configurationtable used by a current physical connection, and is used to transmit,when the timeslot configuration table changes, content of a changedtimeslot configuration table to a receive end by using the managementchannel. That is, a specific field needs to be defined only for theidentifier of the timeslot configuration table in the overhead area, andthe content of the timeslot configuration table is transmitted over themanagement channel. This effectively reduces a waste of overheadresources, and provides higher flexibility.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used to:when a configuration table of the physical connection group changes,transmit content of a changed configuration table of the physicalconnection group, where the configuration table of the physicalconnection group is used to indicate an identifier of each physicalconnection in the physical connection group and a sequence between thephysical connections.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used totransmit, based on a protocol packet, the content of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the content of the configuration table of thephysical connection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is further used tonegotiate, based on the protocol packet, a change of the timeslotconfiguration table and/or the configuration table of the physicalconnection group.

Optionally, in an embodiment, all fields of M overhead code blocks inoverhead code blocks transmitted over each physical connection are usedfor the management channel, and M is a positive integer.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used to transmitthe content of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content ofthe configuration table of the physical connection group by using anEthernet packet, and synchronization headers of the M overhead codeblocks are used for synchronization of the Ethernet packet.

Optionally, in an embodiment, some fields of the overhead code blocktransmitted over each physical connection are used for the managementchannel.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of each physical connection, different physical connections inthe physical connection group correspond to different managementchannels, and content of a timeslot configuration table used by anyphysical connection in the physical connection group and/or the contentof the configuration table of the physical connection group are/istransmitted by using a management channel corresponding to the anyphysical connection.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a managementchannel of the physical connection group, the multiple physicalconnections in the physical connection group share the managementchannel of the physical connection group, and content of the timeslotconfiguration tables used by the multiple physical connections and/orthe content of the configuration table of the physical connection groupare/is transmitted by using the management channel of the physicalconnection group.

The following provides another embodiment of the present invention withreference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a method for transmitting a datastream in a flexible Ethernet according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The method in FIG. 9 may be executed by a transmit end. Themethod includes the following steps.

910. Obtain a to-be-transmitted service stream, where the service streamis to be transmitted by using a target virtual connection supported by aphysical connection group between a transmit end and a receive end, thephysical connection group includes multiple physical connections andsupports at least one virtual connection, and the target virtualconnection is any one of the at least one virtual connection.

920. Determine, from total bandwidth resources of the multiple physicalconnections and according to timeslot configuration tables used by themultiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidth resource thatbelongs to the target virtual connection. A timeslot configuration tableused by each physical connection indicates a virtual connection to whicheach timeslot bandwidth resource obtained by dividing a bandwidthresource of each physical connection belongs.

930. Transmit the service stream to the receive end using the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection. Afield that identifies content of a timeslot resource configurationtimeslot configuration table in an overhead code block transmitted overeach physical connection is used to transmit only a timeslot resourceconfiguration timeslot configuration table currently used by eachphysical connection.

In a current system, the transmit end transmits content of each timeslotresource configuration timeslot configuration table to the receive end,and indicates a currently used table in an overhead area. Therefore, alarge amount of redundant information (for example, content of atimeslot configuration table that is not used by a current physicalconnection does not need to be transmitted) is transmitted. However, inthis embodiment of the present invention, only content of a timeslotconfiguration table used by the current physical connection istransmitted in the overhead area, so that transmission efficiency isimproved, and a waste of overhead resources is avoided.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a method for transmitting a servicestream in a flexible Ethernet according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The method in FIG. 10 may be executed by a receive end. Themethod includes the following steps.

1010. Receive a data stream using a physical connection group. Thephysical connection group includes multiple physical connections andsupports at least one virtual connection. A target virtual connection ofthe at least one virtual connection is used to transmit a servicestream, and a field that is used to identify content of a timeslotresource configuration timeslot configuration table in an overhead codeblock transmitted over each physical connection in the multiple physicalconnections is used to transmit only a timeslot resource configurationtimeslot configuration table currently used by each physical connection.

1020. Determine, from total bandwidth resources of the multiple physicalconnections and according to timeslot configuration tables used by themultiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidth resource thatbelongs to the target virtual connection, where a timeslot configurationtable used by each physical connection is used to indicate a virtualconnection to which each timeslot bandwidth resource obtained bydividing a bandwidth resource of each physical connection belongs.

1030. Restore, from the data stream and according to the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection, theservice stream transmitted over the target virtual connection.

In a current system, a transmit end transmits content of each timeslotconfiguration table to the receive end, and indicates a currently usedtable in an overhead area. Therefore, a large amount of redundantinformation (for example, content of a timeslot configuration table thatis not used by a current physical connection does not need to betransmitted) is transmitted. However, in this embodiment of the presentinvention, only content of a timeslot configuration table used by thecurrent physical connection is transmitted in the overhead area, so thattransmission efficiency is improved, and a waste of overhead resourcesis avoided.

FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmitter according toan embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that,the transmitter 1100 in FIG. 11 can implement steps executed by thetransmit end in FIG. 9. To avoid repetition, details are not describedherein again. The transmitter 1100 in FIG. 11 includes an obtainingmodule 1110, configured to obtain a to-be-transmitted service stream,where the service stream is to be transmitted by using a target virtualconnection supported by a physical connection group between a transmitend and a receive end, the physical connection group includes multiplephysical connections and supports at least one virtual connection, andthe target virtual connection is any one of the at least one virtualconnection. The transmitter 1100 also includes a determining module1120, configured to determine, from total bandwidth resources of themultiple physical connections and according to timeslot configurationtables used by the multiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidthresource that belongs to the target virtual connection, where a timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection is used to indicatea virtual connection to which each timeslot bandwidth resource obtainedby dividing a bandwidth resource of each physical connection belongs.The transmitter 1100 also includes a transmission module 1130,configured to transmit the service stream to the receive end by usingthe timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtualconnection, where a field that is used to identify content of a timeslotresource configuration timeslot configuration table in an overhead codeblock transmitted over each physical connection is used to transmit onlya timeslot resource configuration timeslot configuration table currentlyused by each physical connection.

In a current system, the transmit end transmits content of each timeslotresource configuration timeslot configuration table to the receive end,and indicates a currently used table in an overhead area. Therefore, alarge amount of redundant information (for example, content of atimeslot configuration table that is not used by a current physicalconnection does not need to be transmitted) is transmitted. However, inthis embodiment of the present invention, only content of a timeslotconfiguration table used by the current physical connection istransmitted in the overhead area, so that transmission efficiency isimproved, and a waste of overhead resources is avoided.

FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a receiver according to anembodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that, thereceiver 1200 in FIG. 12 can implement steps executed by the receive endin FIG. 10. To avoid repetition, details are not described herein again.The receiver 1200 in FIG. 12 includes a receiving module 1210,configured to receive a data stream by using a physical connectiongroup. The physical connection group includes multiple physicalconnections and supports at least one virtual connection. A targetvirtual connection of the at least one virtual connection is used totransmit a service stream, and a field that is used to identify contentof a timeslot resource configuration timeslot configuration table in anoverhead code block transmitted over each physical connection in themultiple physical connections is used to transmit only a timeslotresource configuration timeslot configuration table currently used byeach physical connection. The receiver 1200 also includes a determiningmodule 1220, configured to determine, from total bandwidth resources ofthe multiple physical connections and according to timeslotconfiguration tables used by the multiple physical connections, atimeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtualconnection. A timeslot configuration table used by each physicalconnection is used to indicate a virtual connection to which eachtimeslot bandwidth resource obtained by dividing a bandwidth resource ofeach physical connection belongs. The receiver 1200 also includes arestoration module 1230, configured to restore, from the data stream andaccording to the timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the targetvirtual connection, the service stream transmitted over the targetvirtual connection.

In a current system, a transmit end transmits content of each timeslotconfiguration table to the receive end, and indicates a currently usedtable in an overhead area. Therefore, a large amount of redundantinformation (for example, content of a timeslot configuration table thatis not used by a current physical connection does not need to betransmitted) is transmitted. However, in this embodiment of the presentinvention, only content of a timeslot configuration table used by thecurrent physical connection is transmitted in the overhead area, so thattransmission efficiency is improved, and a waste of overhead resourcesis avoided.

FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmitter according toan embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that,the transmitter 1300 in FIG. 13 can implement steps executed by thetransmit end in FIG. 9. To avoid repetition, details are not describedherein again. The transmitter 1300 in FIG. 13 a memory 1310, configuredto store a program. The transmitter 1300 also includes a processor 1320,configured to execute the program. When the program is executed, theprocessor 1320 is configured to: obtain a to-be-transmitted servicestream, where the service stream is to be transmitted using a targetvirtual connection supported by a physical connection group between atransmit end and a receive end, the physical connection group includesmultiple physical connections and supports at least one virtualconnection, and the target virtual connection is any one of the at leastone virtual connection; determine, from total bandwidth resources of themultiple physical connections and according to timeslot configurationtables used by the multiple physical connections, a timeslot bandwidthresource that belongs to the target virtual connection, where a timeslotconfiguration table used by each physical connection is used to indicatea virtual connection to which each timeslot bandwidth resource obtainedby dividing a bandwidth resource of each physical connection belongs;and transmit the service stream to the receive end by using the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection, wherea field that is used to identify content of a timeslot resourceconfiguration timeslot configuration table in an overhead code blocktransmitted over each physical connection is used to transmit only atimeslot resource configuration timeslot configuration table currentlyused by each physical connection.

In a current system, the transmit end transmits content of each timeslotresource configuration timeslot configuration table to the receive end,and indicates a currently used table in an overhead area. Therefore, alarge amount of redundant information (for example, content of atimeslot configuration table that is not used by a current physicalconnection does not need to be transmitted) is transmitted. However, inthis embodiment of the present invention, only content of a timeslotconfiguration table used by the current physical connection istransmitted in the overhead area, so that transmission efficiency isimproved, and a waste of overhead resources is avoided.

FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a receiver according to anembodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that, thereceiver 1400 in FIG. 14 can implement steps executed by the receive endin FIG. 10. To avoid repetition, details are not described herein again.The receiver 1400 in FIG. 14 includes a memory 1410, configured to storea program. The receiver 1400 also includes a processor 1420, configuredto execute the program. When the program is executed, the processor 1420is configured to: receive a data stream using a physical connectiongroup, where the physical connection group includes multiple physicalconnections and supports at least one virtual connection, a targetvirtual connection in the at least one virtual connection is used totransmit a service stream, and a field that is used to identify contentof a timeslot resource configuration timeslot configuration table in anoverhead code block transmitted over each physical connection in themultiple physical connections is used to transmit only a timeslotresource configuration timeslot configuration table currently used byeach physical connection; determine, from total bandwidth resources ofthe multiple physical connections and according to timeslotconfiguration tables used by the multiple physical connections, atimeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtualconnection, where a timeslot configuration table used by each physicalconnection is used to indicate a virtual connection to which eachtimeslot bandwidth resource obtained by dividing a bandwidth resource ofeach physical connection belongs; and restore, from the data stream andaccording to the timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the targetvirtual connection, the service stream transmitted over the targetvirtual connection.

In a current system, a transmit end transmits content of each timeslotconfiguration table to the receive end, and indicates a currently usedtable in an overhead area. Therefore, a large amount of redundantinformation (for example, content of a timeslot configuration table thatis not used by a current physical connection does not need to betransmitted) is transmitted. However, in this embodiment of the presentinvention, only content of a timeslot configuration table used by thecurrent physical connection is transmitted in the overhead area, so thattransmission efficiency is improved, and a waste of overhead resourcesis avoided.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may be aware that, in combinationwith the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in thisspecification, units and algorithm steps may be implemented byelectronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronichardware. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or softwaredepends on particular applications and design constraint conditions ofthe technical solutions. A person skilled in the art may use differentmethods to implement the described functions for each particularapplication, but it should not be considered that the implementationgoes beyond the scope of the present invention.

It may be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art that, forthe purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed workingprocess of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, reference may bemade to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, anddetails are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should beunderstood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may beimplemented in other manners. For example, the described apparatusembodiment is merely an example. For example, the unit division ismerely logical function division and may be other division in actualimplementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may becombined or integrated into another system, or some features may beignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutualcouplings or direct couplings or communication connections may beimplemented by using some interfaces. The indirect couplings orcommunication connections between the apparatuses or units may beimplemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physicallyseparate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units,may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality ofnetwork units. Some or all of the units may be selected according toactual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of theembodiments.

In addition, function units in the embodiments of the present inventionmay be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units mayexist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into oneunit.

When the functions are implemented in the form of a software functionunit and sold or used as an independent product, the functions may bestored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such anunderstanding, the technical solutions of the present inventionessentially, or the part contributing to the prior art, or some of thetechnical solutions may be implemented in a form of a software product.The software product is stored in a storage medium, and includes severalinstructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personalcomputer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or some of thesteps of the methods described in the embodiments of the presentinvention. The foregoing storage medium includes: any medium that canstore program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, aread-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk,or an optical disc.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of thepresent invention, but are not intended to limit the protection scope ofthe present invention. Any variation or replacement readily figured outby a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed inthe present invention shall fall within the protection scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the presentinvention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

1. A method, comprising: obtaining, by a transmit end, a service stream,wherein the service stream is to be transmitted by the transmit end to areceive end using a target virtual connection, the target virtualconnection is supported by a physical connection group, the physicalconnection group comprises a plurality of physical connections, and theplurality of physical connections of the physical connection group isconnected between the transmit end and the receive end; andtransmitting, by the transmit end, the service stream to the receive endusing a timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtualconnection, wherein, for each physical connection of the plurality ofphysical connections, a plurality of overhead code blocks transmittedover the respective physical connection comprises a first field and amanagement channel, wherein each first field of indicates an identifierof a timeslot configuration table, each management channel transmitscontent of the timeslot configuration table, and the timeslotconfiguration table indicates the timeslot bandwidth resource thatbelongs to the target virtual connection.
 2. The method according toclaim 1, wherein: the timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to thetarget virtual connection comprises one or more timeslots of onephysical connection of the physical connection group; or the timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connectioncomprises one or more timeslots of more than one physical connection ofthe physical connection group.
 3. The method according to claim 1,wherein each management channel further transmits content of a physicalconnection configuration table of the physical connection group, whereinthe physical connection configuration table of the physical connectiongroup indicates an identifier of each physical connection of theplurality of physical connections in the physical connection group and asequence between the plurality of physical connections.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 3, wherein each management channel transmits, basedon a protocol packet, content of the timeslot configuration table or acontent of the physical connection configuration table of the physicalconnection group.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein eachmanagement channel further requests, based on the protocol packet, achange of the timeslot configuration table or the physical connectionconfiguration table of the physical connection group.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein all fields of M overhead code blocks ineach plurality of overhead code blocks transmit the management channels,M is a positive integer, wherein the management channels transmitcontent of the timeslot configuration table or content of a physicalconnection configuration table of the physical connection group usingEthernet packets, and synchronization headers of the M overhead codeblocks are usable for synchronization of the Ethernet packets.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the management channels implement amanagement channel of the physical connection group, the plurality ofphysical connections in the physical connection group share themanagement channel of the physical connection group, and content of theone or more timeslot configuration tables used by the plurality ofphysical connections, or content of a physical connection configurationtable of the physical connection group, is transmitted using themanagement channel of the physical connection group.
 8. A method,comprising: receiving, by a receive end, a data stream sent by atransmit end using a physical connection group, wherein the physicalconnection group comprises a plurality of physical connections, thephysical connection group supports a target virtual connection, thetarget virtual connection transmits a service stream, wherein, for eachphysical connection of the plurality of physical connections, aplurality of overhead code blocks transmitted over the respectivephysical connection comprises a first field and a management channel,wherein each first field indicates an identifier of a timeslotconfiguration table, each management channel transmits content of thetimeslot configuration table, and wherein the timeslot configurationtable indicates a timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the targetvirtual connection; and restoring, from the data stream and according tothe timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtualconnection, the service stream transmitted over the target virtualconnection.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the managementchannels further transmit: content of a physical connectionconfiguration table of the physical connection group, wherein thephysical connection configuration table of the physical connection groupindicates an identifier of each physical connection of the plurality ofphysical connections in the physical connection group and a sequencebetween the plurality of physical connections.
 10. The method accordingto claim ₉, wherein the management channels transmit, based on aprotocol packet, content of the timeslot configuration table or acontent of the physical connection configuration table of the physicalconnection group.
 11. A transmitter, comprising: at least one processorconfigured to: obtain a service stream, wherein the service stream is tobe transmitted by the transmit end to a receive end using a targetvirtual connection, the target virtual connection is supported by aphysical connection group, the physical connection group comprises aplurality of physical connections, and the plurality of physicalconnections is connected between the transmit end and the receive end;and transmit the service stream to the receive end using a timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection,wherein, for each physical connection of the plurality of physicalconnections, a plurality of overhead code blocks transmitted over therespective physical connection comprises a first field and a managementchannel, wherein each first field indicates an identifier of a timeslotconfiguration table, each management channel transmits content of thetimeslot configuration table, and wherein the timeslot configurationtable indicates the timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to thetarget virtual connection.
 12. The transmitter according to claim ii,wherein: the timeslot bandwidth resource that belongs to the targetvirtual connection comprises one or more timeslots of one physicalconnection of the physical connection group; or the timeslot bandwidthresource that belongs to the target virtual connection comprises one ormore timeslots of more than one physical connection of the physicalconnection group.
 13. The transmitter according to claim ii, whereineach management channel further transmits content of a physicalconnection configuration table of the physical connection group, whereinthe physical connection configuration table of the physical connectiongroup indicates an identifier of each physical connection of theplurality of physical connections in the physical connection group and asequence between the plurality of physical connections.
 14. Thetransmitter according to claim 13, wherein each management channeltransmits, based on a protocol packet, content of the timeslotconfiguration table or content of the physical connection configurationtable of the physical connection group.
 15. The transmitter according toclaim 14, wherein each management channel further requests, based on theprotocol packet, a change of the timeslot configuration table or thephysical connection configuration table of the physical connectiongroup.
 16. The transmitter according to claim ii, wherein all fields ofM overhead code blocks in each plurality of overhead code blockstransmit the management channels, M is a positive integer, wherein themanagement channels transmit the content of the timeslot configurationtable or content of a physical connection configuration table of thephysical connection group using Ethernet packets, and synchronizationheaders of the M overhead code blocks are usable for synchronization ofthe Ethernet packets.
 17. The transmitter according to claim ii, whereinthe management channels implement a management channel of the physicalconnection group, the plurality of physical connections in the physicalconnection group share the management channel of the physical connectiongroup, and content of the one or more timeslot configuration tables usedby the plurality of physical connections, or content of a physicalconnection configuration table of the physical connection group, istransmitted using the management channel of the physical connectiongroup.
 18. A receiver, comprising: at least one processor configured to:receive, by a receive end, a data stream sent by a transmit end using aphysical connection group, wherein the physical connection groupcomprises a plurality of physical connections, the physical connectiongroup supports a target virtual connection, the target virtualconnection transmits a service stream, wherein, for each physicalconnection of the plurality of physical connections, a plurality ofoverhead code blocks transmitted over the respective physical connectioncomprises a first field and a management channel, wherein each firstfield indicates an identifier of a timeslot configuration table, eachmanagement channel transmits content of the timeslot configurationtable, and wherein the timeslot configuration table indicates a timeslotbandwidth resource that belongs to the target virtual connection; andrestore, from the data stream and according to the timeslot bandwidthresource that belongs to the target virtual connection, the servicestream transmitted over the target virtual connection.
 19. The receiveraccording to claim 18, wherein the management channels further transmit:content of a physical connection configuration table of the physicalconnection group, wherein the physical connection configuration table ofthe physical connection group indicates an identifier of each physicalconnection of the plurality of physical connections in the physicalconnection group and a sequence between the plurality of physicalconnections.
 20. The receiver according to claim 18, wherein themanagement channels transmit, based on a protocol packet, content of thetimeslot configuration table or content of a physical connectionconfiguration table of the physical connection group.